“...many atheists embrace Jesus as having been a great teacher, and yet he's the one who had the most to say about hell.”
Quote Analysis:
In this quote by J.P. Moreland, the idea that atheists often separate Jesus as a great teacher from his teachings about hell is presented. Moreland points out the contradiction in admiring Jesus for his wisdom and teachings while conveniently disregarding his warnings about the consequences of not following his teachings. This quote challenges individuals to critically examine their beliefs and to consider the full scope of Jesus' teachings, even the uncomfortable aspects such as the concept of hell.
Understanding the Concept of Hell and Jesus' Teachings
In today's world, many atheists acknowledge the teachings of Jesus as that of a great teacher. However, it is interesting to note that Jesus had a significant amount to say about the concept of hell. Let's explore the modern relevance of this perspective.
Embracing Jesus as a Great Teacher
"Many atheists embrace Jesus as having been a great teacher, and yet he's the one who had the most to say about hell." - J.P. Moreland
Reflection Questions
When considering the quote by J.P. Moreland about atheists recognizing Jesus as a great teacher despite his teachings about hell, it prompts us to reflect on our own beliefs and perspectives. Here are some questions to ponder:
- How do you reconcile the perception of Jesus as a great teacher with his teachings on hell?
- Do you believe that recognizing Jesus as a great teacher necessitates accepting all of his teachings, including those about hell?
- Do you think it is possible to appreciate someone's teachings and wisdom while disagreeing with certain aspects of their beliefs?
- How do you personally navigate and reconcile conflicting beliefs or teachings within a specific belief system or figure?
Similar quotes
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
“True disciples of Jesus Christ have always been concerned for the one. Jesus Christ is our greatest example. He was surrounded by multitudes and spoke to thousands, yet He always had concern for the one.”
“If Jesus had been an actual historical figure we have a thorny paradox. Either this Jesus was a remarkable individual who said and did a host of amazing, revolutionary things – but no one outside his fringe cult noticed for over a century. Or he didn’t – and yet shortly after his death, tiny communities of worshipers that cannot agree about the most basic facts of his life spring up, scattered all across the empire. The truth is inescapable: there simply could never have been a historical Jesus.”
“I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher ... You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool ... or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.”
“Over and over these organizations tell America that family, above all, is what Christianity is about. Devotion to one's family is, indeed, a wonderful thing. Yet it is hardly something to brag about. For all except the most pathologically self-absorbed, love for one's parents, spouse, and children comes naturally. Jesus did not make it his business to affirm these ties; he didn't have to. Jews feel them, Buddhists feel them, Confucians and Zoroastrians and atheists feel them. Christianity is not about reinforcing such natural bonds and instinctive sentiments. Rather, Christianity is about challenging them and helping us to see all of humankind as our family. It seems clear that if Jesus had wanted to affirm the "traditional family" in the way that Pat Robertson claims, he would not have lived the way he did.”